But Brexiteer Justice Secretary Michael Gove looked sheepish as he approached the door to No 10.

Employment Minister Priti Patel, who also supported the Leave camp, stayed silent as she walked down Whitehall after the 1½ hour meeting.

The new leader will now be crowned on September 2 once the field has been whittled down to the final two contenders.

related stories

CREDIT SLATING

Britain stripped of AAA status by ratings agency following Brexit

jexodus

Floundering Jeremy Corbyn on the ropes after dozens of his own MPs beg him to quit as Labour leader

Leaving EU behind

David Cameron calls for special Brexit unit to pull Britain out of European Union

do you know this thug?

Surge in race hate crimes after Brexit vote slammed by Cameron

Eur kidding, right?

Did the blind mystic who predicted 9/11 also foresee Brexit… and suggest a WAR in Europe would follow?

'NOT REMOTELY ON THE CARDS'

Downing Street insists there is NO chance of a second Brexit referendum

EU REVOIR, ENGLISH

French want to kick the English language OUT of the EU after Brexit vote

Plane Talking

Worried about your holiday? Here's the latest on how Brexit will affect the cost of your flights

One campaign figure yesterday said Boris had already signed up “quite a large handful of Cabinet and other senior ministers”. They include his Universities Minister brother Jo, Skills Minister Nick Boles and ex-Health Minister Dan Poulter. But more than 40 Remain-backing MPs met in the Commons yesterday lunchtime to plot a “stop Boris” campaign.

Their prime candidates are thought to be Mrs May or Work and Pension Secretary Stephen Crabb. One anti-Boris MP said: “Our members are worried that Boris will end up with the nuclear codes one day.”

Prime candidate ...Work and Pension Secretary Stephen Crabb is up for the job

Senior 1922 committee members who support BoJo led moves to have the leadership election reduced to a matter of weeks so he can capitalise on the “Brexit bounce”.

One Tory said: “The process is designed to be as swift as possible without looking panicky.”

Mrs May’s campaign was boosted yesterday when it emerged she has the backing of the PM’s closest adviser in the Commons. Gavin Williamson, Mr Cameron’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, said: “She is the candidate who will bring the strongest leadership and do the most to heal the divisions in the party and the country.”

Confirmation ... Graham Brady said 'we really ought to move as swiftly as we reasonably can'

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: “I think the view of the party is that we, and the country more generally, really want certainty and would like resolution. And that ought to mean we will have a new PM before the House of Commons returns for its September sitting.
“This was an unanimous view that we really ought to move as swiftly as we reasonably can.”

But Science Minister George Freeman, touted as runner at the weekend, ruled himself out. He tweeted: “Happy to do my bit to reassure the markets by clarifying I am NOT going to standing on a One Nation Reformer ticket in the Conservative leadership.”

Happy to do my bit to reassure the markets by clarifying that I am NOT going to standing on a OneNationReformer ticket in the Conservative..